Further tests are being carried out on remaining stock at Paragon Quality Foods in Doncaster.

The city council is pressing the relevant authorities to investigate this matter as rigorously as possible. Food fraud is a serious offence and those responsible should face the full force of the law

– Adrian Russell, Leicester City Council

The council has contacted the headteachers of the 19 schools potentially affected to advise them of the action being taken. 6000 letters have also been sent to parents of children at the schools concerned. Meetings have also taken place with Muslim city councillors.

"We understand that since March 1st this year, the product supplier, Paragon Quality Foods Limited, has only been releasing product to customers after obtaining negative DNA results for pork.

However, as a precautionary measure we have removed all of the burgers we had in stock from this supplier whilst further investigation is carried out, and we will not be purchasing any further products from this supplier.We have made it clear to our suppliers that this is totally unacceptable, and we are taking urgent legal advice about the next steps.”

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We have been informed by a customer that a Halal Lamb burger produced by Paragon Quality Foods Ltd has tested positive for the presence of pork.

Paragon Quality Foods Ltd is a pork free site and has never knowingly bought or handled pork.

We have carried out a full traceability of the product in question and have provided this information to the relevant enforcement authorities.

The public analyst at Doncaster Borough Council has conducted unannounced formal sampling of our products on two occasions, with clear results.

– Metin Pekin, Paragon Quality Foods

The company says it is also working with the council to provide all information requested and add that they are satisfied with practices and procedures. They are awaiting the results of further testing.

Leicester City Council have confirmed they are no longer working with the business at the centre of a food contamination issue in the city. 19 schools are affected by the news that a sample halal lamb burger was found to contain pork meat.

This is a shocking and unacceptable development. As Muslims, we cherish our strict dietary needs, which are well known and have been developed for well over a thousand years. The consumption of pork and alcohol is prohibited for all Muslims.

This recent event will raise an issue of confidence in the Muslim community as to the measures and processes that are put in place that gives assurance of halal meals. All due diligence procedures should be thoroughly reviewed and bolstered where necessary and should include intermittent and random sample testing which should encompass DNA testing.

It is hoped that this will not occur again and the community are now looking to the city council and our elected councillors for this assurance and to rebuild the confidence that has clearly been shaken.